Screw actuated dispensing mechanism and refill unit therefor



J. GABLER 2,599,379

' SCREW ACTUATED DISPENSING MECHANISM AND REFILL UNIT THEREFOR June 3, 1952 Filed Feb. 24, 1948 5 MVA 5. r 1. m I u \m km 7 w 9 m JOSEF GABLER Jmmrwq,

Qu z/n 040m v 271mm! R zz OPNEYS Patented June 3, 1952 SCREW ACTUATED DISPENSING MECHA- NISM AND REFILL UNIT THEREFOR Josef Gabler, Zurich, Switzerland Application February 24, 1948, Serial No. 10,483

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in containers for dispensing semi-fluid or pasty substances such as lotions, creams, and the like, and has particular reference to containers provided with refill units containing material to be dispensed from the container, and for resupply thereof when the initial supply is exhausted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for dispensing pasty substances, employing a novel form of refill unit which may be employed only with the container of the invention.

A further object is to provide a refill unit for containers and other devices employed to dispense pasty substances constructed in such manner that it may be employed only with a particular container, preventing the substitution of .refill units which may be provided by other manufactures for use with the container.

A further object is to provide a container for use in dispensing pasty substances which employs a refill unit supplied with a mechanism cooperating with the container to actuate means for discharging a pasty substance from the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of the invention in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a rotating sleeve adapted to receive and secure the refill unit in the container;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a preferred type of coupling which may be employed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of key for use with the invention; and

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of further embodiments of keys for use in association with the refill unit of the invention.

In its broadest concept, the invention comprises a container for dispensing pasty substances such as creams, lotions and the like, including an outer container, an inner container including a refill unit rotatably secured in the outer container, ejector mechanism on the outer container, a piston in the refill, and a coupling mechanism securing the ejector mechanism and refill piston in operative relationship, the coupling mechanism including a key member provided as a separate mechanism with the refill unit and adapted to be secured in mutually rotatable relationship with the refill piston priorto insertion of the refill unit in the outer container, whereby dispensing of the container contents may be accomplished.

Referring to the drawings, the outer container may be in the form of a cylindrical casing ||l made of any suitable material resistant to wear and corrosion such as metal or a plastic. The casing In is provided with a base plate I formed integrally therewith and provided with an indented portion |2 forming a recess serving as a seat [3 for a spring l4 positioned centrally of the base plate I I for compression and expansion along the longitudinal axis of the casing Ill. The spring [4 is secured in the seat l3 by a pin Ma or otherwise as by welding or soldering, against radial rotation relative to the casing Ill.

The spring l4 preferably is made of a strip of fiat spring steel shaped in helical form. This construction has the advantage of being compressible into an extremely small space at the base of the container upon insertion of a refill unit l5 therein, whereby a maximum of available space in the container is employed for supply purposes. Also, this type of spring presents a maximum of resistance to distortion and lateral displacement upon operation of the device. The spring l4 readily carries rotational movement imparted to the base of the spring to the upper extremity IS with a minimum of lost motion, thus acting in the capacity of a relatively fixed driving connection between the container l0 and mechanism associated with the refill unit l5, insofar as relative rotational movement is concerned.

The upper extremity or loop l6 of the spring l4 carries a coupling member I! rigidly secured thereto comprising a base l8 provided with a plurality of raised projections I9 arranged in opposed relationship.

The wall of the container I0 is pressed outwardly to form a channel 20 extending around the periphery. An inner casing or sleeve 2| is provided with a peripheral indentation 22 adapted to fit into the channel 20 in the casing 10, supporting the sleeve 2| rotatably in relation thereto but securing the sleeve 2| against free relative longitudinal movement. As shown in Figure 2, the sleeve 2| is slotted longitudinally at 23 to provide for compressibility of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve may be snapped into place in the container l0. Four such slots 23 are adequate for this purpose. The lower extremity of the sleeve 2| is tapered inwardly, providing a plurality of resilient fingers 24 adapted to receive and retain the refill unit IS in mutually rotatable relationship upon insertion in the sleeve 2|.

The refill unit l5 includes a tubular member threaded at 26 on the inner surface, a cap 21 having a discharge tube 28 and a rim 29 on the cap 21 adapted to engage with the upper lip of the sleeve 2| in close fitting relationship, upon insertion of the refill unit IS in the sleeve 2 l. A cover -30 on the container ID is positioned over the cap '21 and secured in frictional engagement with the upper edge 3| of the sleeve 2| which extends above the wall of the container I0, as shown in Figure 1. The-cover 30 is-provided with an extrusion cup 32 having a discharge orifice 33 which receives the discharge tube 28 of the refill unit cap 21. It will be observed that rotation of the container cover 30 relative to the container ||l,rotates the sleeve 2| and the refill unit IS.

The tubular member 25 of the refill unit I5 isprovided with a base forming apiston 34 normally forming .the bottom of the refill unit IS. The piston 34 is threaded to engage with the threads 26 on the inner walls of the tubular member 25, so that the piston will move longitudinally of the refill unit I5, upon relative rotation therewith. A piston support 35 extends across the under surface of the piston and is provided with a rim 36-threa'ded to engage with the threads 26 on'the inner walls of the member 25'and thus support directly the peripheral'edge .of the piston. The support 35 is stamped or otherwise formed to provide an upwardly extending member '31 protruding through the :pis-

tonto secure the "two members in mutually'rotatable relationship.

The rim 36 of the support 35 definesa-chamber adapted to receive means for engaging with the coupling H on the upper loop l6 of-th'e spring |4, when the'refill unit |.5 is inserted in the container, whereby the piston is retained in fixed relationship with 'the container 10 when the sleeve 2| and the refill unit 15 arerotated. The

said means comprise an insert provided with each refill unit, and adapted 'to be placed inoperative relationship with the refill unit |'5 by the user, prior to insertion of each refill unit |5 in the dispenser. As shown in Figures '4 through '6, the insert may comprise a disk .38 having a projection 39 imposed on the surface thereof adapted to be received by the coupling "H.

not being limited to .the precise forms illustrated I =in'the drawings. 7 v

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the projection 39 comprises a block 40 provided with pins 4| adapted to seat in an aperture 42 provided in the base of the coupling IT, as shown in Figure 3. This type of connecticn may bepre- -ferred to assist in relatively positioning the said members and to eliminate lateral play between the coupling I! and the disk 38, when the members are assembled in operative position.

In operation, when the refill unit 15 purchased with the container I0 is exhausted, the cover 30 of the container is removed and the sleeve 2| and the refill unit 15 removed from the container Ill. The exhaustedrefill unit 5 is removed from the sleeve 2| and a fresh unit I 5 inserted therein, being seated so that the bottom of the unit I 5 rests flush with the ends of the fingers 24 of the sleeve 2|. The insert 38 is then placed in the chamber defined by the rim 36 of the piston sup port 35 in tight fitting relationship, for mutual rotation therewith, and the sleeve-refill unit assembly snapped into the container ID. The spring [4, firmly secured in the seat |3 on the base of the container Ill, is compressed by the refill unit I5. The coupling I"! on the spring [4 is placed in engagement with the projection 39 on the surface of the insert 38, being brought into line by "slight rotationalmovement of the sleeve2'l relative to the container"! as the sleeve 2| is snapped into place. The container cover 30 is reseated over the projecting portion 3| of the sleeve 2| and when rotated by the user, rotates the sleeve 2| and the refill um't I5, the container l0 remaining relatively stationary. The piston 34 is retained in non-rotating relationship with the refill unit I5, and thus advances longitudinally of the refill unit I5 on the threads '26 to extrude pasty substance in the refill through the discharge tube 28. It will be obvious that the ope'ration described maybe reversed by inaintaihing the cover 30 stationary androtating the containerlfl relative thereto, whereby the piston 34 is advanced.

The container of the invention maybe employed connection with any material's of a consistency enabling extrusion thereof 'under moderate pressures. The container and component-parts may be constructed of any materials suitable for use to accomplish'thepurposes described, such as plastics, lightmetals such as aluminum, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it is 'notto be limited to the details shown for purposes of description only, save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing pasty substances comprisinga container, a refill unit containing a pasty-substance for insertion in the container in relative axially rotatable relationship therewith, the refill unit being threaded on its inner surfac'e,a piston in the refill unit in threaded engagement with the inner surface for movement to express the pasty substance therefrom, a longitudinally compressible coupling member associated withjth'e container, a ke member for association with the piston to engage the coupl ng member and 'secureth'e piston and the con tamer in mutually rotatable relationship relative to the refill unit whereby the piston is advanced longitudinally of the refill unit upon relative rotation of the container and refill unit.

2. A device for dispensing pasty substances comprising a container, a sleeve in the container inrelatively rotatable relationship therewith, a refill unit secured in the sleeve for mutual axial rotation therewith, a piston in the refill unit for expressing the pasty substance, a key associated with the piston, a coupling member on the container for engaging the key when the sleeve and refill unit areinserted in the containerto secure the piston against rotation relative to the sleeve and refill unit, and meansin the refill unit for advancing the piston longitudinally of the refill unit when the container is rotated relative to the sleeve and refill unit.

3. A device for dispensing pasty substances comprising a container, a sleeve in the container in relatively rotatable relationship therewith, the sleeve being slotted longitudinally to' form a plurality of inwardly tapered resilient nngersa refill unitcontaining a pasty substance secured by the said resilient fingers of the sleeve for mutual axial rotation of the sleeve and refill unit relative to the container, a piston in the refill unit for movement longitudinally thereof to express the pasty substance, a longitudinally compressible spring secured to the base of the container for mutual axial rotation therewith, a coupling member on the'spring, a key member on the piston for engagement with the spring coupling member upon insertion of the sleeve and refill unit in the container to secure the piston and the container in mutually rotatable relationship, and means in the refill unit for advancing the piston upon relative rotation of the refill unit and the container.

4. A device for dispensing pasty substances comprising an outer container, a refill unit containing the pasty substance for insertion in the outer container in relatively rotatable relationship therewith, said refill unit being threaded on its inner surface and having a piston in threaded engagement with the inner surface forming the bottom of the refill unit, a support engaging the piston for mutual rotation therewith, and a longitudinally compressible coupling member engaging the outer container and the support for causing mutual rotation of the container and the support and adapted to follow in engagement with the support as it moves in the refill.

5. A device for dispensing pasty substances comprising an outer container, a refill unit containing the pasty substances for insertion in the outer container in relatively rotatable relationship therewith, said refill unit being threaded on its inner surface and having a piston in threaded engagement with the inner surface forming the bottom of the refill unit, a longitudinally compressible coupling member engaging the outer container and extending upwardly therefrom towards the piston, a key member secured to the on its inner surface and having a piston inthreaded engagement with the inner surface forming the bottom of the refill unit, a helical spring engaging the outer container and extending upwardly therefrom towards the piston, a key member secured to the upper end of the helical spring, and a non-round projection adapted to rotate integrally with the piston and extending from its lower surface for engagement with the key member whereby the piston and outer container rotate as a unit to drive the piston along the threaded walls of the refill unit for expulsion of the pasty substances therefrom.

J OSEF GABLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,569,268 Dupre Jan. 12, 1926 1,670,178 Zearing et a1. May 15, 1928 2,009,761 Calderara July 30, 1935 2,090,018 Armstrong Aug. 17, 1937 2,174,421 Krannak Sept. 26, 1939 

